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Casualty Info
Home Town Mobile, AL
Last Address 2606 Saint Stephens Rd Mobile, AL
Casualty Date Feb 22, 1944
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Saipan
Conflict World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)/Battle of Saipan
Location of Interment Pine Crest Cemetery - Mobile, Alabama
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
LT McVay was a pilot in Fighting Aquadron One (VF-1). On 15 July 1943, VF-1 it was redesignated VF-5 and assigned to the USS Yorktown (CV-10). The squadron was equipped with the new Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat. During October he was promoted to the rank of Lt. USNR and became a division leader. During the cruise, Lt. McVay was credited with three aerial victories. The first was against a Zero near Wake Island on 5 October, 1943; the second was against a Kate near the Marshall Islands on 29 January, 1944; the third was against a Hamp near Yap, Caroline Islands on 17 February, 1944. He was listed MIA when he did not return to the carrier after strafing over Siapan on 22 February, 1944 then later presumed dead.
In February 2009, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed the remains of an Unknown Soldier buried in Plot F Row 12 Grave 2 at Manila American Cemetery with the belief that identifications could be made. DNA analysis and historical evidence were used to positively identify the remains as belonging to Lt. Woodie L. McVay, Jr. His name remains permanently inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 099808
Service dates:
Army National Guard 1936-1940
US Navy 11/1940-2/1944
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
